THROOP - Taxpayers in the Mid Valley School District could see a 4 percent increase in their school tax bill for 2013-14.

Directors on Wednesday night approved a preliminary budget of $21.6 million, which includes a $626,000 deficit. The district will seek state approval to go above the index rate of 2.1 percent this year, citing costs with retirements and special education.

To fully fund the deficit, the district would need an additional 3.7 mills from taxpayers. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value, so the owner of a property assessed at $10,000 would see a $37 tax increase.

Directors and district officials said work still must be done on the budget and that they would try to find ways to trim the deficit.

Students have been in the district's renovated and expanded elementary school for six months, but several outstanding construction-related motions and bills were approved, including:

- $27,102.15 for Palumbo Construction

- $3,070 For Burkavage Design Associates

- $107,534.36 in prime contractor payments

- $650 in change orders

- a $20,000 increase for construction-related legal services of Attorney William W. Warren, Jr., bringing his maximum cost to $60,000.

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